Finally, Google Pixel Fold is official: First foldable phone in the U.S. after Samsung

After numerous rumours, Google has finally unveiled its highly anticipated foldable phone, the Pixel Fold. The company launched this device at the Google I/O 2023 event today. With a book – style folding design which looks much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Pixel Fold combines a mobile phone – like front screen with a tablet – like display on the inside. Although this device will hit the shelves later this year, let’s explore the key details Google has revealed so far.

Google Pixel Fold Design and Screens

The Pixel Fold follows the expected design of a book – style folding phone. Its exterior features a sizable mobile phone – like screen with an aspect ratio of approx. 17.5:9. Although slightly shorter and boxier than standard mobile phone screens, this aspect ratio offers a more practical form factor compared to the Fold 4’s narrower 23:9 screen. The back of the Pixel Fold retains the distinct Pixel camera bar first used in the Pixel 6 series, with the familiar G logo at the center.

Unfolding the Pixel Fold reveals a 7.6-inch tablet – like screen. Unlike most other foldable phones, the Pixel Fold’s default style provides a landscape layout. Also, the top and bottom bezels are notably larger. While these bezels may give the device a slightly out – dated look, they serve a practical purpose by aiding one – handed usage and prevent accidental touch. The top bezel houses the interior front – facing camera, cleverly avoiding interference with the interface. Notably, Google has yet to solve the under – display camera quality issue seen in Samsung’s phones.

Both screens offer an FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. The exterior screen outshines the inner screen with a brightness of up to 1,200 nits in HDR and a peak brightness of 1,550 nits. This makes the mobile phone more suitable for outdoor use. The hinge of the Pixel Fold boasts a multi – alloy steel design, enabling smooth motion across its full 180° range. This versatility allows for easy usage in various “Tabletop mode” positions. It is ideal for acts such as video watching or extended typing sessions.

Hardware and Camera

The Pixel Fold does really well with the top – tier hardware at its price point. It comes with the decent Google Tensor G2 chip, which the company uses across the Pixel 7 lineup. This device also uses 12GB of RAM and storage options ranging up to 512 GB. The device is equipped with a 4821 mAh battery that supports both wired and wireless charging. At the moment, the company did not reveal the specific charging power. In terms of connectivity, the Pixel Fold comes with a Wi-Fi 6E, sub6 and mmWave 5G antennas, Bluetooth 5.2, and ultra-wideband support. It also holds an IPX8 water resistance cert.

Camera

In terms of cameras, the Pixel Fold offers flagship – grade specs. The primary camera is a 48MP quad PD sensor with OIS and an f/1.7 aperture. This device also comes with a 10.8MP ultrawide camera with a 121° field of view and a 10.8MP dual PD telephoto lens capable of 5x optical zoom. Leveraging computational photography, the Pixel Fold can achieve up to 20x digital zoom. The rear camera can record videos in up to 4K resolution at 30 or 60 frames per second, optionally supporting 10-bit HDR video. Familiar Pixel features such as astrophotography, cinematic pan, slo-mo up to 240FPS, optical and electronic image stabilization, Real Tone, Night Sight, and Portrait photography are all included. The folding design of the Pixel Fold also allows for easy selfie capture using the main cameras and the front screen.

On the front, the Pixel Fold boasts two simpler selfie cameras and both support face unlock for faster access to the device. The outer camera is a 9.5MP dual PD sensor with fixed focus and an f/2.2 aperture. Also, the inner camera is an 8MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

Software

As we would expect from a Google phone, the Pixel Fold runs on the latest Android version, Android 13. At the moment, there is an update to Android 14 in the works. It adds all the familiar software features that come with the Pixel lineup.

Being a foldable device, the Pixel Fold offers more software tools. It supports a half – open “Tabletop mode,”. This allows apps to utilize the partially unfolded state. For example, you can watch a video on the top half of the screen while having playback controls on the bottom half. Though only a few apps currently support this feature, the company will add more app support in the future.

The Pixel Fold also brings a taskbar in its unfolded position which eases multitasking and the use of many apps at the same time. You can pin apps to either side of the screen, and when not in use, the taskbar automatically disappears to maximize screen real estate, reappearing with a swipe up from the bottom when needed.

Google Pixel Fold Price & Pre – Order

The Pixel Fold which is available for pre-order will ship on June 27. Priced at $1,800, it can be pre – ordered from the Google Store, with a complimentary Google Pixel Watch included. While initial rumours suggested Google would undercut the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s price, it appears they have aligned with a similar price range. The Pixel Fold will be launched in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan.

Final Words

With the launch of the Pixel Fold, Google has entered the foldable phone arena, directly competing with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Pixel Fold combines a book-style folding design, a powerful hardware configuration, impressive camera capabilities, and a tailored software experience. While it is set to release later this year, the initial details and specifications showcase Google’s commitment to delivering an innovative and competitive foldable phone option to consumers.